even

Forms

even (adverb; adjective, not comparable)^[1] Colloquial forms are effe, effies, eventjes and effetjes, and in Belgium and southern dialects efkes or effekens.^[2] The shorthand ff is used in writing.^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch even, a by-form of the more usual Middle Dutch adjective effen, inherited from Old Dutch *evan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ebn, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz (“even, level”).^[2][1] The Old Dutch word is found in the place name ⟨Euinaccar⟩ “level field” (821–823).^[2] The same adjective is Old Saxon eƀan, Old High German eban (modern German eben), Old Frisian even, Old English efen (modern English even), Old Norse jafn and Gothic 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (ibns).^[2][3][4] The ⟨ff⟩ of ⟨effen⟩ is a sharpening of ⟨v⟩ before ⟨n⟩.^[4][5][6]

In Middle Dutch ⟨effen⟩ was the usual form of the adjective; ⟨even⟩ came into general use in early modern Dutch, and the meanings were then divided: effen kept the spatial “smooth, flat”, while ⟨even⟩ took the abstract senses and the adverb.^[2] The same doubling is found in tevens beside ⟨teffens⟩ and nevens beside ⟨neffens⟩.^[2]

The EWN finds no convincing Indo-European etymology.^[2] Proposals include a root meaning “twin” and a link with Latin imitor (“to imitate”) and imāgō (“image”), but the development to ⟨-mn-⟩ and ⟨-bn-⟩ remains disputed.^[2][7][4] Kroonen derives the word from a root Proto-Indo-European *h₁em-, comparing a Sanskrit adverb meaning “just now”, and rejects the older proposals.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Middle Dutch adverb effene, “evenly, exactly”, is recorded in 1236, and even as an adverb of degree, “equally”, around 1240.^[2][8][6] In 1284 a Dordrecht charter has effen vele, “as much”.^[2][9]

Semantic evolution

The sense “divisible by two” appears with the game even of oneven, guessing “even or odd”: Van der Sijs dates it to 1467, and the Teuthonista of 1477 names the game.^[8][2] Since Middle High German had eban “divisible by two” in 1022, the sense is old.^[2] The meaning “equal”, as in even groot, survives in compounds such as evenals, evenknie and evenwicht, and in om het even, “all the same”.^[2][10][11]

The adverb of time grew out of “just, exactly”: even doen, “just then”, in 1632 and even op dat woort, “just at that word”, in 1656 still need a further phrase.^[2] Later even stood alone for “for or within a short time”: Ik had maar even tyd (1764–1775).^[2][8] It then became a particle that softens a request by suggesting it takes little time, as in wijs ons reis effen, “just show us” (1835), and a second particle expressing the speaker's surprise: Was Jan effies dapper?, “wasn't John brave!” (1903).^[2]

The adverb passed into Javindo, Negerhollands, Kwinti and Caribbean Javanese.^[1]

Timeline

• 821–823 – The Old Dutch place name Euinaccar “level field” is recorded.^[2]
• 1236 – Middle Dutch effene “evenly” is recorded.^[2][8]
• c. 1240 – Even is recorded as an adverb of degree.^[8]
• 1467 – The sense “divisible by two” is recorded.^[8]
• 1632 – Even means “just (then)”.^[2]
• 1659–1673 – Van der Sijs dates the adverb of time “a moment”.^[8]
• 1835 – Effen is used as a softening particle.^[2]
• 1903 – Effies expresses surprise.^[2]

Meanings

Adverb

1. For a moment, briefly: Ik ga even boodschappen doen.^[10][1]
2. A little way: even verderop.^[10][12]
3. Softening a request, implying little effort: Kun je even het raam dichtdoen?^[10][1][2]
4. Emphatic, “really”: Dat was even schrikken!^[10]
5. No less than: Hij won even tienduizend euro.^[10]
6. Just as, equally (before an adjective): Ze is even oud als ik.^[1][12]
7. (Netherlands) Quite, rather.^[1]

Adjective

1. even, divisible by two: Acht is even.^[10][1]
2. Equal, the same, only in om het even, all the same, no matter.^[10][11]

Word family

• evenbeeld
• evenknie
• eveneens
• evenmin
• evenredig
• evenveel
• evenzoveel
• evenals
• oneven
• evenen
• eventjes
• daareven
• zo-even
• evenmens
• evenwel
• evenwicht

Related words

• effen
• English even
• German eben

Usage notes

An unrelated noun even or evene “oats”, an old borrowing of Latin avena, survives in Flemish dialects for wild oats.^[11][13]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ a b Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 118
6. ^ a b Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
7. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
8. ^ a b c d e f g Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
9. ^ Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
10. ^ a b c d e f g h Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
11. ^ a b c Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
12. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
13. ^ Debrabandere, Frans (2005), Oost-Vlaams en Zeeuws-Vlaams etymologisch woordenboek, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Atlas